By Charles Maduka
The United States Embassy in Abuja and the Consulate General in Lagos will suspend operations on Monday in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The closure was announced by the US Mission in Nigeria through its official social media channels.
According to the mission, both diplomatic offices will be closed for the day to honour the annual public holiday in the United States, which celebrates the life and legacy of civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr. The holiday is observed every third Monday of January.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day commemorates the contributions of the late civil rights leader, who championed racial equality and social justice through nonviolent resistance. The holiday was formally established in 1983 after a bill signed into law by former US President Ronald Reagan and was first observed in 1986.
The temporary closure will result in a one-day halt in routine consular and embassy services for Nigerians and other residents who rely on US diplomatic offices. However, emergency assistance for US citizens will remain available through designated channels.
Normal services at the embassy in Abuja and the consulate in Lagos are expected to resume the following day after the public holiday observance.
Leave a Reply